READER'S ROCK LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE VOL 2 ISSUE 4 NOVEMBER 2014 VOL 2 ISSUE 5 DECEMBER 2014 | Page 64

Managing the holidays with a loved one who suffers memory loss
(BPT) - The holidays are supposed to be
a time of joy when families and friends
gather to share each other's company,
revisit fond stories of holidays past and
make new memories to last a lifetime.
But what if a loved one is no longer able
to remember the holidays or the family
and friends he has spent them with?
What if dementia or Alzheimer's has
robbed a parent or grandparent of the
ability to make and cherish new
memories?
"More than 5 million people are living
with Alzheimer's, and the disease
particularly impacts caregivers and
other loved ones during the holiday
season," says Kelly Scott of Brookdale,
which operates more than 550
Alzheimer's and dementia care
communities. "Despite the stress and
sadness Alzheimer's ca